News

This is a list of upcoming events, professional opportunities and trainings, and funding opportunities related to the mental health and wellness of African Americans in the Austin area. Have news you would like us to share? Please contact Vicky Coffee, Program Manager for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

Note: 4ABHN members are deeply involved with the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference. Learn more.

We are: A small advocacy group based in Austin, Texas that strives to empower Texas families to find services and solutions for incarcerated loved ones in crisis and to transform Texas county jails into more humane, healthier facilities.

We want: A Peer Policy Fellow who brings direct experience into the conversations about mental health, addiction, and criminal justice reform. With support from your supervisor and mentor, you will build relationships with key stakeholders, raise awareness about the cruel links between mental health challenges/addiction and criminal justice involvement; gather and analyze information about current issues and TJP cases; and develop written, audio, and video materials for social and traditional media. This position is funded through a two-year grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

You have:• Lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use leading to experience with incarceration.• Two years paid or volunteer experience being a recovery or reentry coach.• Demonstrable history of willingness to use your lived experience for systems advocacy.• Skill in communicating in formal and informal settings. • Self-direction and ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in teams.• A passion for improving Texas criminal justice policy.

You might also have:• Certification as a Reentry Peer Specialist or Recovery Coach.• Work experience related to jails and mental health agencies at the state and county levels.• Familiarity with the diverse cultures and languages of Texas.

Why should you apply?You will be part of a small, nimble organization in Austin and will report directly to the Executive Director, Diana Claitor. The position pays $43,000 annually plus benefits and includes intensive professional development, networking, and content learning through participation in the Hogg Mental Health Policy Academy and mentorship provided by Lynda Frost. Most importantly, Texas Jail Project* works on the front lines of policy change for some of Texas’ most vulnerable people.

*The Jail Project of Texas is our official name as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization in IRS and Secretary of State records, but we do business as Texas Jail Project.

About Integral Care

Vision: Healthy Living for Everyone

Mission: To improve the lives of people affected by behavioral health and developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

Integral Care is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and supportive environment that welcomes and embraces diversity of all forms. Applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged.

Manager/Supervisor/Team Lead positions - Depending on the level of leadership, leadership positions require a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a major specialization in the related field. Salary varies. There are 9 current leadership openings including:

Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) - All LPHA positions require a Master's degree with a major specialization in Human/Behavioral/Social Services or related field. Licensure as an LPHA, LPC, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, or LMFT is required. Salary is at $55,602 - $63,616 annually, depending on licensed experience. There are 7 current LPHA openings including:

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC/CI)positions - All LCDC/CI positions require a Bachelor's degree with a major specialization in Human/Behavioral/Social Services or related field. Typically a minimum of two years of direct service provider experience working with adults experiencing substance use disorders or dually diagnosed with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders is preferred. Licensure as an LCDC or LCDC-I is required. Salary is at $37,140 - $45,024 annually, depending on licensed experience. There are 3 current LCDC/CI openings including:

Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) positions - All QMHP positions require a Bachelor's degree with a major specialization in Human/Behavioral/Social Services or related field. Typically a minimum of two years’ experience in mental health is preferred. Starting Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) salary is at $35,819 - $37,914 annually based on experience, but internal applicants are subject to Integral Care’s QMHP career ladder. There are 20 current QMHP openings including:

This year decide to do something for yourself personally and professionally. Come learn about our community at a systems level and how to lead in the midst of those systems.

Why Leadership Austin? Leadership Austin offers established and emerging business and community leaders a unique opportunity to be part of a group that has come together to:

Develop their personal and professional leadership skills;

Learn about the issues affecting Greater Austin through open and balanced civic discussion; and,

Build relationships with others who seek to find solutions to the issues facing our region.

Leadership Austin is recruiting for our 2019 Essential and Emerge programs. Not sure which program might be right for you? Review our program comparison and join us for any one of our upcoming recruiting receptions. Applications now available and due June 30th.

Are you an established leader who wants to gain a better understanding of the most challenging issues in the Greater Austin area -- apply to our Essential program.

In light of the bombing tragedies that have hit our great city, a city wide meeting will be held to help mobilize, inform and provide information pertaining to Neighborhood Awareness and Community Safety. There will be presenters along with on-site resources to assist those who are seeking to become more active in the community.

On Thursday April 5, 2018 we are requesting your attendance at Huston-Tillotson University, King Seabrook Chapel, 900 Chicon St. Austin, Texas 78702. Doors will open at 6:00pm with the program beginning promptly at 6:30pm. A joint press conference is scheduled at 6:15pm. Some of the invited and confirmed organizations are Austin Police Department (APD), The NAACP, Neighborhood Watch coalitions, The Nation of Islam, Black Lives Matter, Austin Justice Coalition, Counter Balance: ATX, 10,000 Fearless First Responders group and many concerned citizens.

The Austin Local Organizing Committee (A.L.O.C.) is a collaborative effort of different organizations and groups who have united under the banner of unity and collective work. This effort, we believe, will elevate and uplift our communities to be clean and safe places to live.

For more information visit www.justiceorelse.com, or call us locally at 512.545.9997

Austin State Hospital

CPE (CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION) Accredited by the College of Pastoral Supervision and PsychotherapyApril 24-June 22, 2018Tuesdays, 4 pm – 8 pmOne hour of Individual Supervision during the week to be arranged between supervisor and trainee.

If you plan to be in CPE for the Spring-Summer First ½ Session, let me know.The Second ½ Session will be from July 10-September 10.

Expectations: 50 hours of Didactics and 100 hours of clinical pastoral work (can be all at ASH or part of it at your pastoral site and the other part at ASH)200 hour total

Update your CPE trainee status with TCD at ASH. If you have an ID it has to be turned in and get a new one. Also update your email assignment and use of computer privileges.If you are new, you need to turn in your applications ASAP. If you need copies of them here they are.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is excited to invite you to a breakfast for our supervisors, alumni, local counselors and community partners Friday, April 20, 8:30am - 10am, for 1.5 hrs of free CEU Ethics and Supervision credit for LPC, LMFT, & LCSW. Please join us and invite your colleagues!

Join us forA Community Conversation – Live on “Morning Edition”Hosted by KUT’s Jennifer Stayton with special guests

Over the past three weeks, a serial bomber killed two people and injured four more in Austin. The first three bombs injured and killed people of color, raising fears that these crimes were racially motivated. According to law enforcement, a video confession of the now-dead bomber does not mention race or politics as motives. But the deadly attacks in East Austin highlighted long-standing problems with Austin’s racial climate.

Join us for a live broadcast of “Morning Edition” where we’ll host a community conversation about the bombings and the response by police, the media and the community.

In celebration of the 32nd Annual Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil RightsThe Division of Diversity and Community Engagement presents

AS WE SAW IT: THE STORY OF INTEGRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

As We Saw It: A Book TalkCo-editors Virginia Cumberbatch and Leslie Blair will discuss the book, “As We Saw It: The Story of Integration at the University of Texas at Austin,” to be released March 23 by UT Press. They will present a few of the compelling stories included in the book and why those stories of the first black students at UT Austin remain relevant today.

As We Saw It: A Panel DiscussionDr. Richard Reddick will moderate a discussion that will highlight the perspectives from African American, Latino/a American and Asian American students who attended UT before 1970. The panel will focus on common experiences of students of color as well as the ways in which groups of students were treated differently.